Nicky (Fallen Gliders MC Book 1) Read online

  A sad smile lifted Mel’s lips. “I think I do, yeah.”

  “After thirty years with my brothers, I handed in my colors. Just this morning.” I don’t know where the confession came from. Wasn’t usually the sharing type, but Mel was easy to talk to.

  “I understand why you would do such a thing.” Compassion filled her eyes.

  A strange ache twisted through my chest, and I frowned. “I gave up everything to come here, and she won’t even talk to me.”

  “Maybe she just needs some time.”

  I nodded.

  “Mel!” an elderly man at the bar’s other end called.

  Mel glanced over her shoulder and smiled, her carefree spirit flowing out of her again like a damn ocean swell. “Be right there, Junior!” She turned back to me. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

  My cock sure as hell could use help getting some relief. It’d been too damn long since I had a woman. Hadn’t been one decent enough at the club in the previous couple of months to interest me.

  Getting too damn old.

  Shot glass in hand, I took in the small but well-kept bar. Patrons ranged from a couple of suits and ties to sweatshirt twenty-somethings. A few had stared at me when I’d come back in, and I knew what they saw. Big, broad, and bad ass, I looked like the type of biker parents warned their daughters about. Whatever assumptions made about me would probably be true. Drug dealer. Murderer.

  Used to be, I reminded myself, glancing once more at Sheriff Elliott, who continued to stare at me. That life lay behind me, and while I had no fucking clue what to do with myself outside of the brotherhood, I hoped it would include Suzie.

  Mel

  Nicky stuck around, enjoying my best bottle of whiskey until a half hour before closing time. He tossed another large bill on the bar and said he’d see me later.

  Sighing, I watched him leave, enjoying the leather clinging to his powerful legs, muscular thighs, and round ass perfect for digging my heels into. Warmth skittered across my skin for at least the fiftieth time since first seeing him.

  I climbed into bed over an hour later, naked, freshly showered, and still horny as hell. Pussy still soaked and needy, I decided to give my favorite dildo a shot at satisfying me. The largest I had, shaped like a real cock with a massive mushroom head, and it glided deep without any resistance. I groaned, imaging Nicky planking over me, his muscles straining as much as I did toward release.

  Full, but lacking.

  Better than nothing, I decided, angling the dildo to reach deeper inside of me.

  A couple of thrusts, my hips rising to my other hand’s fingers rubbing my swollen clit, and I came, but not nearly as hard as I’d expected—or wanted. I panted for breath while relaxing on my bed, pulling the dildo from my body.

  Empty, and still wanting.

  Dammit.

  I hoped Nicky would be back sooner than later.

  ****

  Wednesday, I watched the door like a hawk, hoping and waiting for awareness of a bright, blue-eyed stare to sizzle across my skin. The bell dinged countless times, but no Nicky. I kept my smile in place, though, schmoozing the customers as Grandpop would have said. I got an earful from Mrs. Hanks, the town gossip who enjoyed hanging out as much as Old Toothless, sipping her hot toddies.

  Forcing myself to listen at least kept me up to date on who was screwing and who was pregnant—out of wedlock. Knowing the dirt helped me know how to deal with people when they came in looking for a good time or to drown their sorrows.

  The sheriff stopped in and asked me about Nicky. While his story wasn’t mine to tell, I did inform the sheriff that Nicky had handed in his colors. Figured giving out personal information might save Nicky an unnecessary run-in with the law in our small town.

  Disappointment hung on my shoulders as I locked up for the night and crawled into bed. My damn dildo only made the itch for Nicky’s cock that much stronger. God, did I want him.

  I opened at noon on Thursday and served up a dozen or so burgers for lunch. The sun had finally come out, shining through the front windows. At two, the bar pretty much emptied out, and since it warmed enough to prop open the door for the breeze rustling the new leaves of the red maple out front, I did so.

  Breathing deep, I went about the after-lunch cleanup, clearing tables and scrubbing glasses while Kelly cleaned in the back.

  The rumble of a bike kicked my heart into pumping double, and my smile widened. Minutes later, the hairs on my arms stood on end, and I turned toward the door.

  Nicky stood in the doorway, peering at me.

  I smiled. “Hey.”

  He dipped his head and moved through the room to settle on the same seat he’d occupied a few days earlier.

  “What can I get ya?” I asked, sidling up as close as I could with the bar between us, making sure to add a little extra what do you really want in my eyes.

  “If you’re still serving lunch, I sure as hell wouldn’t mind one of those burgers you offered the other day.” The heat in his eyes told me he, too, wanted more than mere food.

  “Sure thing. How do you want your burger cooked?”

  “Bloody as hell, and a side of fries if you’ve got ‘em,” he said, peeling off his leather jacket.

  A waft of cologne and male musk emanated from his movements, setting the drool factory in my mouth into full motion. Tatts of skulls, hearts, and vines peeked from beneath the short sleeves of his tight, white t-shirt and made their way down to his wrists.

  “Scary son of a bitch, aren’t I?” he asked, his low voice flooding my pussy.

  I lifted my attention to his eyes again, getting snagged in the lust, and everything else faded around us. “Nope, but you are seasoned.” I made sure to add a little and I like it in my tone.

  “Seasoned.” He snorted a gruff laugh without smiling. “You mean old.”

  My smile grew, and I knew my eyes damn near sparkled as I ogled him again until the bar hindered my sight of his lower half. “More like an expensive vintage of wine that needs to be consumed.”

  A low groan sounded in his chest.

  “Whiskey?” I all but purred.

  “Leave the bottle.”

  I poured his first round and sashayed away, the back of my neck tingling. My heart pounded, the flutters in my stomach something I hadn’t experienced since Johnny Johnson had claimed my first kiss back in the sixth grade when playing spin the bottle.

  Kelly glanced up at me as I walked through the swinging door behind the middle of the bar. “Damn, woman.” One of her darkly-painted eyebrows rose. “Who’s got your panties melted to goo?”

  I laughed. “That obvious, huh?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “That Nicky guy I was telling you about.”

  Kelly shook her head, long, black ponytail swaying, and grabbed the order I’d jotted down. “Seriously, what the hell is up with you and the older guys?”

  “I’ve told you countless times, they’re like a fine wine…” I swung back through the door, leaving her laughing behind me.

  “Food’ll be right out,” I called down to Nicky and grabbed another round of beers for the three guys still sitting at the table near the front window.

  The slowest time of the day and I couldn’t have been happier. Nicky sat alone at the bar, and once I made sure the other three customers didn’t need anything else, I made my way back to him.

  Rag in hand, I wiped down the workstation closest to him even though I’d done it twice already. “How are things going?” I asked, unable to stand the silent sexual tension between us.

  “Not so good with Suzie, but I found an apartment that’ll be available in three weeks.”

  “Where are you staying now? If you don’t mind my asking?”

  Nicky twirled the shot glass between two fingers. “Staying down at the B&B a few miles back.”

  “Greta’s place.”

  He nodded.

  “She makes a mean apple pie,” I said with a moan.

&
nbsp; Nicky cleared his throat. “It’s on her dessert menu for tonight.”

  “Then you’d best save room.” I tossed the rag into the sink and figured to hell with acting busy. Wasn’t like Grandpop was around anymore to talk about idle hands. I leaned on the bar. “So what do you think about our little town?”

  “Quaint.” He kicked back his shot and poured another.

  “Like your whiskey, do you?”

  “Better than water.”

  Elbow on the bar, I propped my chin in my palm. “Mmm. A little more expensive, though.”

  Nicky smiled, white teeth flashing and a dimple peeking through his whiskers.

  “My God,” I murmured, my knees near giving way.

  “What?”

  “You’ve got a killer smile.”

  His lips slowly flat-lined again. “Been a while since I’ve smiled.”

  “You ought to do it more often. ‘Course”—I straightened—“every single woman between here and Conway will be all over your ass if you do.”

  Nicky actually chuckled, and my own smile widened. “That’s where you’re wrong, Mel.”

  My brows shot up. “How so?”

  “My appearance scares most people away.”

  “I’m not scared.”

  He stared into my eyes, and I pressed my thighs together. “You should be,” he murmured, his voice low enough to rumble my chest.

  Oh, damn. An animal shone through his eyes—and not the fairytale shifter-type. The kind of wildness that would take. Devour, on instinct, without thought. I bit down on my lip, unsure of what to think or say.

  The bell tinkled over the door.

  “Afternoon, Mel!” Old Toothless called loudly, sinking my heart.

  A good fifteen minutes earlier than his daily visit, I noted, glancing at the clock on the wall. “How are ya, Junior?” I asked while forcing a smile and moving toward the other end of the bar.

  My oldest customer slowly lowered himself onto the stool he’d more or less owned since I could remember. “Bones aren’t aching today,” he said with a toothless grin.

  I tipped a glass beneath a tap. “Because it’s beautiful out.”

  “Heard tell it’s going to cool off over the weekend.”

  Setting his beer in front of him, I nodded. “Looks like storms will roll in, too.”

  Junior grumbled for a few minutes about the weather and creaking joints while I made noises of agreement.

  Kelly came through the swinging door, and I nodded toward Nicky with my chin. She shot him a quick glance and turned back toward me with a smirk.

  She delivered, tossed around her ponytail, and waggled her eyebrows at me before disappearing into the kitchen again.

  Old Toothless kept me occupied, and as soon as the early birds came in looking for the soup of the day Kelly made from scratch every Thursday, I made my escape.

  “You can’t be serious,” Kelly said the second I walked through the swinging door for a couple bowls of her lentil and lamb stew.

  “I am.”

  “But he’s so old!” she whispered, glancing at the door.

  “He can’t be more than fifty-two or so,” I said with a shrug.

  “And you’re twenty-eight.”

  “So?”

  “So? He’s old enough to be your father.”

  I loaded bowls onto a tray and glared at her. “I find older men attractive. Alluring.”

  “You’re just wanting a—”

  “I am not looking for a daddy replacement.” Kelly’s brow rose, and I picked up the tray. “Just ‘cuz you don’t find him sexy doesn’t mean that he isn’t.” Lips pursed, I strode back to the bar, delivered the soup, refilled a few drinks, and made my way toward Nicky as he stood.

  “Heading out?” I asked, totally bummed we hadn’t gotten to chat more.

  “For now.”

  I smiled and a ghost of one twitched his whiskers, but the intensity of his gaze didn’t lessen. Only a matter of time…

  “Heading back south for a couple of days to pack up my shit,” he said while pulling on his leather jacket.

  “Hurry back.”

  “Plan on it.” Nicky winked, and goddamn, did I nearly swoon.

  Nicky

  Heading south again didn’t sit well, but I needed to get my stuff out of the club. Needed to cut ties and try like fuck to move on. The apartment I’d found wouldn’t be available for a little over two weeks, and even though Suzie didn’t scream at me through her door anymore, I hadn’t been able to get her to open the damn thing. Staying with her wasn’t an option.

  I’d had to sign out of the B&B before heading back to the club since Greta had booked the room I’d been using, so I had no fucking clue where I’d be crashing until my apartment opened up. Camping out under the stars was fine by me—God knows I’d done it countless times while out touring with my brothers.

  Jonny had told me I could keep my stuff in the club for as long as I needed, but I swore spiders crawled down my shirt at the thought of going back to that place. Didn’t have a choice, though. I’d found a place—my new town—and I was anxious to get my shit and start the last leg of my life.

  The sun shone down on me as I pulled into the club’s near-empty lot. I cut the engine and stretched my neck and shoulders, talking the imaginary eight-legged fuckers off my skin.

  A deep breath, and I strode toward the entrance and pulled open the door. The scent of tobacco, booze, and sex swept over me along with the eighties music Jonny was too damn fond of.

  Hawk lounged on a chair nearby, bottle of beer in one hand, a toothpick between his teeth. His eyes lit up. “Knew you’d be back here, you old fuck.”

  “Only here to grab my shit.”

  “Goddamn.” He stood and grabbed me in half a hug, and although I wanted to hate everything about my previous life, I couldn’t push one of my best friends away. Too much history. Too much of a bond. “I shouldn’t let you in here without your colors, but I don’t give a fuck,” he said with one last thump on my back and stepping away. “Good to see you back, Nicky.”

  I nodded, hunched my shoulders, and made my way through the bar area, ignoring the skanks I used to take pleasure in. Not one of them could outshine Mel and her vibrant rays of sun.

  Body tense, I knocked on the office door.

  “What?” Jonny hollered.

  I knew the tone all too well. He had a woman on her knees, sucking him off—or trying to, rather.

  “Come on out when you’re done!” I turned, but Jonny’s curse cut through the overhead music.

  “Nicky! Get the fuck in here!”

  I hesitated a few seconds, hand on the knob, giving whatever whore tried to please him time to pack her shit—and his—away.

  “Now!”

  Bossy fucker. I pushed in the door and stepped to the side, letting the blonde with the mascara streaks down her cheeks hurry around me.

  Jonny sat back in his chair, yanking up his zipper, his dark-eyed gaze glued to my face. “Fucking waste.”

  “Wasn’t working for you?”

  “Nothing fucking works for me these days.” He pointed at the chair across from him and adjusted himself through his leathers. “Fuck. We need some new blood in the club, someone who knows how to swallow a cock without gagging.”

  I nodded, although I couldn’t find a single fuck to give.

  Jonny peered at me over the desk, his brow furrowed and eyes troubled. “You here to stay?”

  “No.”

  “God damn this shit to hell.” He tossed aside some papers and leaned forward, elbows on the old desk his father used to sit behind. “You and Hawk are the only two brothers I trust my life with.”

  I didn’t bother correcting him that I wasn’t his brother anymore—just waited for him to continue.

  Lips pursed, he shook his head. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on here, but there’s trouble. Lots of fucking whispering. A handful of the younger brothers took off, leaving their colors behind yesterday.” His voice lo
wered. “The thought they might have followed you off to start another club crossed my mind.”

  “I’m too fucking old, too fucking done.” I gripped the arms of my chair as a frown dented my brow. “You know better than to entertain such a—”

  “I didn’t give it a second thought.” Jonny sat back and heaved a breath.

  “I served under you the last ten years, and your father for twenty before that.”

  “You’re loyal.” He nodded, still peering intently at my face.

  “Was.”

  Jonny tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning that I’m done here, just like I told you a few days ago when I handed in my colors.” I forced my grip to relax but didn’t break eye contact. “I’m loyal in that I won’t rat out or give up any shit to the law if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  He slowly nodded and slumped back in his chair. “I need a fucking vacation.” Pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes, he tipped his head back. “This fucking place… Goddammit.”

  I opened my mouth, ready to tell him about the perfect hole-in-the-wall bar up Route 16, but clamped my lips shut. Leaving the brotherhood meant leaving my friends behind. Moving on. While I wanted to give a fuck about Jonny, Hawk, and the handful of others I’d considered friends, I told myself I couldn’t do it.

  Fucking sucked, but Suzaroo needed me—even if she didn’t want me.

  I stood, and Jonny tipped his head down, the resignation in his eyes like a knife to my gut. “Need help packing up your stuff?” he asked, his voice void of emotion.

  “Don’t have a lot.” Didn’t have jack shit beyond my clothes and a few odds and ends from over the years. Trinkets from here and there littered my apartment on the club’s second floor, worthless shit since the Gliders lay in my past.

  Jonny nodded, seeming to deflate even further into his chair while pulling open the top desk drawer. My keys clinked as he tossed them to me.

  I caught them and dropped my hand to my side. “Thanks for letting me keep my truck out back.”